Executive function skills: the keys to unlocking your child’s full potential

The executive function skills are essential building blocks for learning and cognitive development.

These are skills that children develop as they grow – because it’s not just the physical development that takes place in your child’s pre-school and primary years that’s astonishing. The way their brain grows during this time is incredible, too.

The trio of core executive function skills are working memory, cognitive flexibility and self-control. But why are they important?

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has compared these skills to a busy airport’s control tower. Just as it safely coordinates and manages multiple arrivals and departures, our brains need to manage processes, filter distractions, prioritise tasks, set and achieve goals, and control impulses.

It means that this skill set is crucial for kids to manage their daily activities, and as parents there are lots of ways you can help to support your little one’s development with stimulating tasks, coping strategies, and fun games they will love to play as they learn.

The best part? You’ll be spending quality time making memories together and boosting your bond as you help your child develop – and with lots of smiles and laughter along the way.

Read on to discover more, and try some of our easy but effective ideas with your little one. And remember – all kids develop at their own pace, so there’s no need to worry if your child needs time, encouragement or practise. In fact, it’s all part of the fun!

Working memory: how we process information

Working memory is the skill that children need to store and process information to perform a task. It’s also needed for multi-step instructions, which they may do more of as they grow older.

Toddlers: Try song games with lots of moves such as I’m A Little Teapot or Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes. Your toddler will need to listen to the words, remember the instructions, and then follow them.

Pre-schoolers: Instead of giving your child too many instructions at once (which they may forget!), break down tasks into chunks. If you’re tidying up, you might say, ‘Please put your toys and books away first, and then I’ll tell you what to do next.’

Primary school kids: Encourage your child to keep a diary. It’s not just a healthy way to express their emotions and improve writing skills, it will help to sharpen their working memory too.

Cognitive flexibility: the ability to adjust

Cognitive flexibility is the brain’s ability to adjust, switch tasks and shift its attention to different things. It enables kids to think about issues, experiences and challenges in new ways. It’s also needed for problem solving, as it sheds light on new perspectives, and enables us to embrace new ways of doing things. This skill is naturally under-developed in very young children, but the following activities can help.

Toddlers: Take your toddler outside so they can be stimulated by lots of new sounds, smells and textures. These can give them lots of opportunities to shift their focus. Help them by pointing out new and exciting things (‘Look at this tree! Touch the bark – what do you feel?’)

Pre-schoolers: Enjoy some pretend play. Looking at an object in different ways can trigger your child’s imagination and hone their cognitive flexibility. For example, is the stick a wand, a sword or an oar?

Primary school kids: Promote writing. Kids have to think flexibly in order to create an interesting, meaningful and comprehensive piece of writing. Don’t make it a chore, though. Encourage your child to write stories, or put down their experiences in writing after a fun day out.

Self-control: how we stay focused

Self-control is a key skill for kids when it comes to learning. It allows them to concentrate on tasks without getting distracted, and helps them to get along with others by behaving appropriately. Naturally, children are often impulse-driven. This is why your child might grab a toy or have a meltdown in the supermarket. While impulse control doesn’t properly develop in children until they are around four years old, you can still set a foundation for this skill when your child is young.

Toddlers: Introduce mild rules for inappropriate behavior and reward the smallest displays of self-control. For example, if you notice your toddler waiting for their turn for a toy, or saying ‘please’, reinforce this good behaviour with lots of praise.

Pre-schoolers: If your child loses focus, ask them why it happened, and how they felt. This helps you get an insight into your child’s mind and you can teach them how to avoid it happening in the future.

Primary school kids: Encourage positive self-talk to help your child handle stressful situations. For example, they might think to themselves, ‘I can handle this’ or ‘I don’t like this, but I’ll stick with it.’ This sort of attitude can help give them the inner strength they need.”

Remember: Think of executive function as the CEO of the brain – a set of skills which creates, implements and manages important decisions. As parents, you can support the development of the three core executive function skills – working memory, cognitive flexibility and self-control – in children with fun tasks and games to help them learn through play.

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